Best place to buy a suppressor?

I'll be purchasing my first suppressor next month. I'l be buying an AAC 762-SDN-6. But I don't know who to buy it through. I can Google it n see who I'm able to purchase from, but I'm more interested in who you folks recommend as a vendor. Someone with great customer service and good pricing.

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Aaron Baker

November 10, 2013, 11:20 PM

I believe those are in high demand and sometimes have long wait times from the manufacturer. You'll need a local Class 3 dealer to do the transfer, so I'd start looking locally and see if you can find someone that has one in stock. Otherwise you'll be adding the Form 3 wait time to your Form 4 late time, which is pushing 9 months according to the NFA branch as of last week.

Aaron

SuedePflow

November 11, 2013, 02:02 AM

I'm pretty sure there aren't any class 3 dealers in my area. At least none that I know of. While we're on the topic, how would I locate a nearby class 3?

If I buy it and have it shipped, can it ship to any FFL? Or would it have to ship from and to a class 3?

AAC has them in stock, so availablity shouldn't be an issue.

Arizona_Mike

November 11, 2013, 03:35 AM

The dealer to dealer to transfer can take 4 months or more if not in stock. Then about 15 months (possibly more at this point) for the transfer from the dealer to you.

I would do two things:
1. Try to find what you are looking for in stock, even if it costs more. Pick a dealer with a shooting range. You won't be able to take it with you but most dealers will extend you "visitation rights", esp since you have paid in full.

Mike

Telekinesis

November 11, 2013, 04:40 AM

If you buy it from out of state (pretty much any Internet retailer or manufacturer) you will have to have it transferred to a SOT in your state on a form 3, and only after that is approved (usually 3-4 months) can you start the form 4 transfer process (which can take between 9-15 months depending on where you're getting your timing info).

If you can find a local dealer in your state who has the can in stock, you can imediately start the form 4 transfer, which shortens your wait significantly. Failing that, I would try to find some of the smaller (but well thought of) dealers on the internet and buy from them. I have had a lot of luck doing that and have always come out with a much better deal on the can than I would have gotten if I bought it from a large retailer.

From what I understand, a FFL without a SOT can receive a NFA weapon, but only on a tax paid basis, which means they have to pay a $200 transfer tax AND wait the full amount of time for a form 4 transfer to the FFL before you start your form 4 transfer. That would mean you're looking at a timeframe of 18-30 months from purchase date to when you can take possession of the can and double the transfer cost if you use a FFL without a SOT.

Unless you're ok with that kind of wait, which is extreme even by NFA standards, you need to find a SOT in your state to handle the transfer. Even if he's an hour or more away, it would be worth it. You really only have to see him twice, once when getting your form 4 ready (SN/manufacturer/SOT info), and once quite a few months later to pick up your can.

SuedePflow

November 11, 2013, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the posts, guys. Sounds like I need to stick to a MI dealer. How does a guy find a class 3 FFL in his state? Is there a website for that?

Also, I assume if the manufacturer has a can in stock, the dealer would be able to order it from them and receive it in a timely manner?

wally

November 11, 2013, 11:11 AM

Buy it from someone in your state that has it in stock, otherwise you are adding the extra wait for the transfer to your dealer before he can transfer it to you to the already absurdly long interval :(

Telekinesis

November 11, 2013, 12:44 PM

Also, I assume if the manufacturer has a can in stock, the dealer would be able to order it from them and receive it in a timely manner?

Depends on your definition of "timely". Every time a suppressor (or any other NFA weapon) changes hands, a ATF transfer form MUST be completed, submitted, and approved before that transfer can take place. Being a dealer allows you to not have to pay a $200 tax on each item and get a slightly more streamlined transfer process, but thats it. If your SOT ordered a can from AAC today, you probably wouldn't see it until February or March, even if the can was sitting on the shelf at AAC ready to go.

SuedePflow

November 11, 2013, 01:16 PM

That's crazy...!

Every time a dealer places a stock order for a suppressor that is in stock at the manufacturer, they need to complete a form 3 transfer and wait 4 months for their order?

Now I see the benefit of finding someone in-state that has inventory. Waiting 9 months is bad enough. I'd like to avoid another 3-4 if possible. AAC has a dealer locator on their website, so I'll be calling around to see if anyone has one in stock.

SuedePflow

November 11, 2013, 01:36 PM

I just called all 5 Michigan AAC dealers. Only one answered the phone. And one had a full voice mail box. Not very promising. It's looking doubtful that any MI dealers stock the one that I want. I think I'd rather wait 3-4 months than compromise on another model, but that still sucks...

Either way, I learned alot today and I thank you guys for that.

rjrivero

November 11, 2013, 02:19 PM

I just called all 5 Michigan AAC dealers. Only one answered the phone. And one had a full voice mail box. Not very promising. It's looking doubtful that any MI dealers stock the one that I want. I think I'd rather wait 3-4 months than compromise on another model, but that still sucks...

Either way, I learned alot today and I thank you guys for that.

www.migunowners.org They'll be able to help you out with the local logistics.

There are a lot of FFL/SOT that aren't advertised, so you can *probably* find one near you who can handle the paperwork.

Our last form 3 (Filed electronically) took 4 weeks. So all hope isn't lost.

SuedePflow

November 11, 2013, 03:53 PM

Thanks, rjrivero. I registered.

I'm in SW Michigan and very close to the Indiana border. Can I drive to a dealer in Indiana to make my purchase without the need to ship to a dealer in my state? I assume the answer is NO, but figured I'd ask just to be sure.

Telekinesis

November 11, 2013, 04:12 PM

I'm in SW Michigan and very close to the Indiana border. Can I drive to a dealer in Indiana to make my purchase without the need to ship to a dealer in my state? I assume the answer is NO, but figured I'd ask just to be sure.

Nope, the dealer must be in your state to transfer the weapon to you, similar to buying a handgun. Of course you could buy the can in Indiana, but then it would have to go to a dealer in your state on a form 3, then to you on a form 4. It would be the same process as if you bought it online (though if you found the right guy to buy from in Indiana, they might let you shoot it at their range while the form 3 is still pending).

Arizona_Mike

November 12, 2013, 02:35 PM

A lot of small gun shows are also have a Class 3 SOT.

Mike

Bubbles

November 12, 2013, 03:27 PM

ATF - Full list of FFL's (http://www.atf.gov/content/contact-us/FOIA/listing-of-FFLs)
Call the ones local to you and see whether or not they have SOT's. If so, ask if that suppressor is in stock.

A tip - F3's between FFL/SOT's who use eForms to do their transfers are taking a lot less than 3-4 months.

SuedePflow

November 12, 2013, 05:23 PM

I found a guy in my state that has several SDN-6's on the way already. So, I'll get going on the paperwork as soon as he receives them.

He's 3 hours (one way) away, but I'll only have to make the drive once. And I'm not at all worried about visitation right either because I don't yet have a gun that I can legall assemble to use it on. That's an entirely seperate wait in itself...

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